Miracle baby born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 7oz survives despite doctors ‘admitting defeat’

When Jordie-Jay was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lbs 7oz, doctors warned it would take a miracle for him to survive.

His mother Kirsty Byass, 28, was ready to turn off the premature child’s life support as his prospects looked increasingly bleak and consultants ‘admitted defeat’.

The child’s family had prepared to say their gut-wrenching final goodbyes at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Jordie-Jay had been born after potentially life-threating complications with Ms Byass’ pregnancy forced doctors to perform a C-section, and the child suffered with premature chronic lung disease.

The child's family had prepared to say their gut-wrenching final goodbyes at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough

Jordie-Jay was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lbs 7oz, and doctors warned it would take a miracle for him to survive

His mother Kirsty Byass, 28, pictured with Jordie-Jay's father Ryan Pearce. Ms Byass was ready to turn off the premature child's life support as his prospects looked increasingly bleak

His mother Kirsty Byass, 28, pictured with Jordie-Jay’s father Ryan Pearce. Ms Byass was ready to turn off the premature child’s life support as his prospects looked increasingly bleak

She had stayed in hospital for around four weeks and was put to sleep for an operation as the situation worsened – knowing her baby might not survive.

Jordie-Jay was born on November 20 and did well at first, before taking a turn for the worse.

Ms Byass had made the impossible decision to turn off his ventilator and let him pass away peacefully.

She had agonisingly explained to her other two boys, aged 11 and 7, what was going to happen and picked out clothes for the baby to wear, before making the sombre journey to the hospital.

Ms Byass, a cleaner from Norton, told Teesside Live: ‘Jordie-Jay has premature chronic lung disease and the doctors said he has it so severe that they only get children like him once every two years.

Jordie-Jay was born on November 20 and did well at first, before taking a turn for the worse

Jordie-Jay was born on November 20 and did well at first, before taking a turn for the worse

The youngster was moved to end of life care and suddenly had a massive turnaround

The youngster was moved to end of life care and suddenly had a massive turnaround

‘He just wasn’t getting any better, the doctors kept putting me into a room and telling me there’s nothing else they can do for him.

‘I begged them to help him, and the truth is they were, but nothing was happening.’ 

She continued: ‘My kids were heartbroken, the nurses said they had to take time out the room because it was heart-wrenching watching my boys so broken.’

But then, Ms Byass changed her mind about turning off the child’s life support, feeling she couldn’t go through with it. 

A nurse said she had never seen such a recovery in her decade in the profession

A nurse said she had never seen such a recovery in her decade in the profession 

‘I couldn’t do it, we became desperate,’ she said.

‘I rang hospitals over the over side of the country, I asked for a second opinion, we researched things that could help him, I even asked them to use him as a guinea pig if it would save his life.’

The youngster was moved to end of life care and suddenly had a massive turnaround, much to the delight of Ms Byass and the child’s father, 25-year-old asbestos stripper Ryan Pearce. 

The tiny baby began making remarkable progress. A nurse said she had never seen such a recovery in her decade in the profession. 

Ms Byass said: ‘Miracles do happen.

‘I didn’t think they would happen to me, but they do.

‘Even one of the consultants said “I can’t believe it”.’

Jordie-Jay is now 132 days old and weighs 8lbs 2oz.

He still has a way to go, but Ms Byass has been left overwhelmed at the ‘miracle’ transformation.

Jordie-Jay was recently transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, and it is hoped he can go home a week on Sunday.

Ms Byass added: ‘I want to say thank you to the hospital staff. It’s because of them that he’s here today.’

What is chronic lung disease? 

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung condition that can cause long-term breathing problems. Babies born prematurely are more likely to get BPD, which is sometimes called chronic lung disease (CLD).  

The condition can develop in infants who need assistance breathing in their early days. Sometimes premature babies are born before their lungs are fully formed, meaning they cannot properly take in and absorb oxygen to stay alive.

The lungs also may not produce enough surfactant – a fluid that helps keep the lungs open. Children suffering with this condition are given extra oxygen, but using ventilator machines can irritate the baby’s airways and scar the fragile air sacs lining the lungs. 

Irritation and scarring makes breathing more difficult for the child, meaning it has to stay on a ventilator for longer.  

The condition most commonly occurs in babies who are born more than 10 weeks before their due dates weighing less than 2 pounds.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk